NTTCALR- First day back to school?! :)

mrsjg2013

To my fellow teachers that went back today- how was your first day?  I was a bit anxious, but other than being INCREDIBLY tired and my eyes being puffy from an emotional weekend, it went rather well!  No students yet until Wednesday, but I'm feeling like getting back into a regular routine may actually be helpful in my healing process.  I fielded the many "How was your summer?" questions in various ways, all pretty vague and then effectively changed the subject by asking them the same question.  Phew! 

Also for fun, what state do you teach in?  Grade level?  Subject?  How long have you been teaching?

AFM- IL, high school, special education English, 8 years

jjbmstinco

CO- School counselor for grades 3-5.  I have been doing it for 3 years. 

Good luck!!!

BethKate2

I went back today and the kids will be there next Monday.

I teach 5th grade ELA and social studies. This is my 8th year at my school and my 10th year teaching.

mrsjg2013

Thanks @readinglove!  DH and I live in WI- he taught in Beloit for 9 years before joining me just over the border.  Where about in WI are you? 

mrsjg2013

@BethKate2-  5 days of in-service?!  I can definitely see the benefit if you get a lot of good training and even more time to work in your classroom! 

@jjbmstinco- Being a counselor is something I have considered at various times in my career.  If I didn't already have a Master's degree (or could afford another one), I would definitely go back to school for social work or psychology.  After teaching for years at an alternative school, I miss the social-emotional focus. 

@Amybunny30- I was totally singing that in my head ALL day

Giants721

Hi good luck back! I start September 2nd, the kids start Sept. 4th. I teach 1st grade in MA. This Sept will be my tenth year!

jjbmstinco

mrsjg2013 said:

@BethKate2-  5 days of in-service?!  I can definitely see the benefit if you get a lot of good training and even more time to work in your classroom! 

@jjbmstinco- Being a counselor is something I have considered at various times in my career.  If I didn't already have a Master's degree (or could afford another one), I would definitely go back to school for social work or psychology.  After teaching for years at an alternative school, I miss the social-emotional focus. 

@Amybunny30- I was totally singing that in my head ALL day

If you come work in my district, apparently that won't matter.  Sorry.  I have a little sarcasm that is killing me. They hired 2 counselors that don't have their M.S.  One has 1 year left and one hasn't even started classes yet!  While I like training in the field, this is not the field to do it alone.  They are alone at schools and I am having to train them.  It also doesn't help that we are in budget crunches for the second years in a row.  Counselors are on the chopping block and its very scary. So my argument- I have a M.S. and I need to be kept for the kids.  

ok rant over. I am sorry about that.

What is your M.S. in?  

mrsjg2013

jjbmstinco said:

mrsjg2013 said:

@jjbmstinco- Being a counselor is something I have considered at various times in my career.  If I didn't already have a Master's degree (or could afford another one), I would definitely go back to school for social work or psychology.  After teaching for years at an alternative school, I miss the social-emotional focus. 

If you come work in my district, apparently that won't matter.  Sorry.  I have a little sarcasm that is killing me. They hired 2 counselors that don't have their M.S.  One has 1 year left and one hasn't even started classes yet!  While I like training in the field, this is not the field to do it alone.  They are alone at schools and I am having to train them.  It also doesn't help that we are in budget crunches for the second years in a row.  Counselors are on the chopping block and its very scary. So my argument- I have a M.S. and I need to be kept for the kids.  

ok rant over. I am sorry about that.

What is your M.S. in?  

Wow- really?  I hope you're getting some kind of stipend for being a mentor?  I began my first special ed job with an "emergency certificate" while I was finishing my degree, but I was already a licensed teacher and certainly was expected to do the job as well as anyone else who did have their degree.  It was tough for me at times, but it's a decision I made.  Doesn't seem fair that someone else would have to make up for my slack or train me one-on-one while they have their own job to do. 

My B.S. (that always makes me laugh!) is in elementary ed, and my M.S. is in special ed. 

mrsjg2013

Thanks @Giants721!  As I was just mentioning, my Bachelor's degree is in el.ed.  Some days I really miss working with the little guys!!  Enjoy the rest of your summer!!

lyndz333

I'm also a teacher in southeastern WI and I go back Wednesday. This will be my second year teaching and I teach kindergartners. I love it but am freaked about going back to work and all the prep that comes with it!

jjbmstinco

@mrsjg2013-CO has 138 SPED jobs.  IDK why.  My school had to hire an emergency teacher in our SPED teacher as well.  I didn't want him, but I will be the first one to say how wrong I was. HE IS GREAT with all the students.  Good for you. It takes a special person to be in your position.

I don't get extra money for being a mentor.  In fact, counselors have a stipend on top of our salary for extra days that we work, and the lack of a plan period.  People are pretty sure that I am going to lose that stipend.  That is $300/month for me.  

I love all this WI people on here.  I hope you have your fridge stocked with some Spotted Cow to get through the year!

Elliecat17

I have in-service starting the 25th and the kiddos come back on the 2nd of September. I'm in the U.P. of Michigan. I've been subbing for 2 years while I finished my masters, and now I have a classroom of infants and toddlers.

jjbmstinco

@CFearsy-Do you think you will ever go back into the classroom?

skategirl128

I'm the coordinator of our preschool program. This is my second year in that role- previously I taught preschool for several years. I do miss the classroom though!

skategirl128

Forgot to add I went back today. We have all week of inservice and kids start on Monday!

jjbmstinco

@CFearsy-I wish you luck!

cherylanddoug

I teach in New Jersey, so we actually don't start until September 2.  I teach high school history, mostly US I. This will be my 10th first day of school as a teacher!

mrsjg2013

@lyndz333 said:

I'm also a teacher in southeastern WI and I go back Wednesday. This will be my second year teaching and I teach kindergartners. I love it but am freaked about going back to work and all the prep that comes with it!

What school district?  I taught kindergarten for a semester on an extended maternity leave right out of college.  What fun, but so exhausting!!  LOTS of energy with those little ones!!!  

mrsjg2013

@jjbmstinco said:

@mrsjg2013-CO has 138 SPED jobs.  IDK why.  My school had to hire an emergency teacher in our SPED teacher as well.  I didn't want him, but I will be the first one to say how wrong I was. HE IS GREAT with all the students.  Good for you. It takes a special person to be in your position.

I don't get extra money for being a mentor.  In fact, counselors have a stipend on top of our salary for extra days that we work, and the lack of a plan period.  People are pretty sure that I am going to lose that stipend.  That is $300/month for me.  

I love all this WI people on here.  I hope you have your fridge stocked with some Spotted Cow to get through the year!

Wowzers- is that they're in need of that many SPED teachers?!  Also, I certainly hope you don't lose your stipend!!!  That's a considerable amount of money!!  FX for you!!

mrsjg2013

@CFearsy, @skategirl128 and @Elliecat- I spent a lot of time with infants through preschool age at various day care and early learning centers from high school through completing my degree.  My absolute FAVORITE job was in an infant classroom when I lived in Austin, TX.  I seriously wrote more lesson plans for that job than I have ever written for my high school teaching job!!  Preschool (meaning all ages before school) teachers (and coordinators!) don't get enough credit- it takes a lot of patience and a big heart to shape the littlest of lives!!  @CFearsy- I got offered a nanny job at one point, but I didn't take it.  I've always wondered if I would have loved it?  What's your favorite part? 

mrsjg2013

@Fightersince83 said:

I'm not a teacher but I work at a school. CA, speech therapist, Pre-K to 6th gen Ed & mod/severe SDC, this is my 6th year as an SLP my 3rd yr at a school.

First off, totally jealous of your CA location!!!  I've only been once and loved every second of it!!  The SLP's in my building are some of my favorite people!!  I went to a conference once on vocabulary acquisition that was geared mainly towards SLP... I found myself thinking I would have really liked to have specialized in that area.  What a difference you make for some incredibly brilliant children that struggle to communicate and are often overlooked. 

Frenchteachermama

I've taught in VA, IL and NJ, high school French, always in very urban inner city schools. This is my first year in 12 years not going back as a student, in taking some time off to pursue my PhD in teaching and curriculum!

lyndz333

@mrsjg2013 - I work in West Allis/West Milwaukee.  It's an awesome district!  Kindergarten is the perfect age for me to work with, too because my humor can sometimes be a bit elementary and I like silly jokes.  

mrsjg2013

@lyndz333 said:

@mrsjg2013 - I work in West Allis/West Milwaukee.  It's an awesome district!  Kindergarten is the perfect age for me to work with, too because my humor can sometimes be a bit elementary and I like silly jokes.  

I live in Beloit- so not too far away   I work just south in Rockton, IL though.  I tend to be sarcastic, so high school students are a good fit for that part of my personality

jjbmstinco

Frenchteachermama said:

I've taught in VA, IL and NJ, high school French, always in very urban inner city schools. This is my first year in 12 years not going back as a student, in taking some time off to pursue my PhD in teaching and curriculum!

@Frenchteachermama‌ how does it feel to not be a student?

Frenchteachermama

jjbmstinco said:

Frenchteachermama said:

I've taught in VA, IL and NJ, high school French, always in very urban inner city schools. This is my first year in 12 years not going back as a student, in taking some time off to pursue my PhD in teaching and curriculum!

@Frenchteachermama‌ how does it feel to not be a student?

Oops I meant as a teacher!

BethKate2

@mrsjg2013, I just saw now that you tagged me in your comment!

We have 4 days of professional development Mon-Thurs, and then Friday off to give us a 3 day weekend before the kids start on Monday. We spent most of the day Mon. and Tues in trainings/meetings, half the day Wednesday, and then we got all day Thursday in our classrooms.

CandST2014

I'm in the DC area, elem SpEd teacher at a Title 1. Teachers of back tomorrow. Kids start next Tuesday. This will be my 5th year. Hope everyone has a great year!

jjbmstinco

https://www.teen.com/?attachment_id=919387

mrsjg2013

@jjbmstinco- HILARIOUS!!

@CANDST2014- Have a good first day tomorrow!!